Beverage cooler carton

ABSTRACT

A beverage cooler carton is provided which is intended to receive ice or other cooling means to keep contents packaged therein cool. The carton is made of a material which is impervious to liquid which may be contained within the carton during use. The carton includes folding end panels which extend continuously between adjacent upper and lower panels; therefore, there are no seams or breaks in the material around a periphery of the carton which might degrade the ability of the carton to hold a liquid. Also disclosed is a method of assembling the cooler carton.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to cartons or packages, and moreparticularly, to a carton or package for a plurality of canned orbottled beverages, wherein the carton is adapted for receiving ice orother cooling means to keep the beverages chilled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Typically, beverages such as soda or beer are packaged in groupsof six, twelve or twenty-four containers. If no refrigeration source isavailable, the beverages have to be consumed at the environmentaltemperature in which they are stored. The most common means for chillingsuch beverages is to place them in portable coolers, or to place themwithin refrigeration units.

[0003] A number of prior art devices exist which are intended to providea package which is able to accept ice or other cooling means in order tochill beverages in the package without having to use a separate coolingsource. Thus, the beverages can be directly chilled without having touse a refrigeration unit or a portable cooler.

[0004] One example of a reference disclosing an expandable package toaccommodate ice includes the U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,727. The packagefurther includes drain holes which allow for drainage of any fluidswhich condense on the beverages or which leak from the beverages duringshipment and handling. The package is lined with a waterproof or waterresistant material to provide a means to prevent or substantially reduceleakage of liquids from within the package.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,923 discloses a cooler container forpackaging a plurality of multiple articles such as cans or bottles. Thecontainer has a top portion designed to receive a quantity of bulk icewhich may be placed in contact with the multiple articles. In operation,side and end flaps are pulled up and form an upper waterproof well areawhich retains the bulk ice. The well area is situated on top of themultiple articles which are packaged in a lower waterproof compartment.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,337 discloses a combination ice package andexpandable cooler. This reference shows a box-type receptacle with anextendable upper portion consisting of folded cardboard flaps. The upperportion further includes expandable top flaps which fold to form a topseal through the use of frictional engagement offset notches. Circularaccess layers are formed in the upper portion enabling drinks to beinserted and recooled while being consumed.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,359 discloses a combinationpackaging/shipping carton and ice bucket. This carton expands to be usedas an ice bucket, in addition to its primary function of being apackaging carton for containers. The carton includes triangular webswhich move from an abutting position to an inline position duringforming of the carton to be used as the ice bucket. Side and end panelsof the carton have foldable flaps which enclose the carton chamber tothe environment. When the foldable flaps are moved away from each otherto assume an inline position, the container is open to the environment,thus increasing the size of the container to permit usage of the cartonas an ice bucket.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,863 discloses a beverage carton with anintegral cooler bin. The carton includes a plurality of panels in astacked relationship which, when unfolded, form an ice bin which isconnectable to the top portion of the compartment of the carton. Ice ispoured into the bin formed by the unfolded panels, and cans are cooledby direct contact with the ice.

[0009] While the foregoing inventions may be adequate for their intendedpurposes, each have certain disadvantages which are common to the priorart in general. One prominent disadvantage in many of the prior artinventions is that the cartons or packages are structurally complex, andare, therefore, expensive to manufacture. Additionally, although manyprior art devices are structurally complex, they are not configured in areinforced manner to hold ice or water for long periods of time. Anotherdisadvantage of prior art devices is that cooled water from melted iceis allowed to drain away from the package, which minimizes the coolingeffect of melted ice. Each of these disadvantages are overcome with thecarton of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The beverage cooler carton of the invention provides for thepackaging of individual beverages, and allows ice or other cooling meansto be added directly to the carton to cool or chill the beverages. Inits simplest form, the cooler carton may be made from a single sheet ofcomposite material which is cut to a desired shape, and then foldedalong fold lines and score lines to an assembled shape. The coolercarton is a six-sided structure having spaced and substantially parallellower and upper panels, front and rear panels, and opposing end panelswhich abut the front and rear panels in perpendicular arrangement. Whenassembled, the cooler carton defines an open interior space which mayhold various types of beverages or other products that are to bemarketed to a consumer. A liquid containment area is defined within thecooler carton by lower portions of the end panels, front and rearpanels, and the lower panel.

[0011] The end panels incorporate a folding combination of flaps whichprovide considerable strength to the construction of the carton, andensure the integrity of the liquid containment area. Each end panel hasa upper flap, lower flap, and a pair of side flaps which are folded backupon one another thereby forming a continuous and unbroken series ofpanel pieces which thereby form the liquid containment area that mayhold a volume of liquid without leaking. A diagonal fold separates eachside flap into an upper side flap and a corresponding lower side flap. Anotch or recess may be cut out of the upper side flap therebyfacilitating folding of the lower side flap against the upper side flapwhen the lower flap is folded towards the carton.

[0012] Perforations or spaced score lines are formed on either the frontor rear panel of the carton thereby allowing access to the interior ofthe carton. In the preferred embodiment, the perforations/score linesdefine a tab which when pulled forms an access opening, and adjacentperforations/score lines define a plurality of access panels which maybe folded outwardly thereby increasing the size of the access opening.To facilitate folding of the access panels, fold lines may also beincorporated on each access panel at the junction of the access paneland the front or rear panel on which the access panels are formed.

[0013] The carton is constructed of a material which has not onlyadvantageous strength characteristics, but is also substantiallywater-resistant to allow melted ice or other cooling liquid to remainwithin the carton, and thus able to continue to cool the contents of thecarton. Of course, if the liquid is desired to be removed, it may besimply poured out from the access opening.

[0014] Preferably, the carton is constructed of a multiple-layeredmaterial, including a substrate such as kraft board, and a polyethylenefilm or membrane which is applied to the substrate by a heatedpolyethylene extrudate. Alternatively, the polyethylene film or membranecould be applied as by an adhesive. The extrudate or adhesive may befirst applied upon the substrate, and then the polyethylene film may beapplied to the substrate coated with the extrudate/adhesive wherein theextrudate/adhesive bonds the substrate to the polyethylene film. If theextrudate is used, the extrudate is molten when applied and may beextruded through a die which results in formation of a liquid curtain ofextrudate applied to the substrate. Depending upon the strength andstiffness required for the carton, various grades of paperboard can beused such as posterboard, card stock, or chip board. In addition topolyethylene as the film or membrane, other materials can be used toinclude polyester, polypropylene, or any other material that can beapplied to the substrate in a very thin, even coat, and that is liquidimpermeable. When the carton is assembled, the polyethylene film is onthe outside or exposed surfaces of the box. Accordingly, liquidcontained within the container is able to seep into the substrate, butis prevented from leaking from the carton by both the extrudate oradhesive and the polyethylene film. Therefore, there are essentially twolayers of liquid-impervious materials which are used to prevent liquidfrom escaping the interior of the carton. Conveniently, the polyethylenefilm is also an ideal material which may accept printing or labeling.Printed material may be directly applied to the polyethylene film. Thefilm can accept printing by reverse or surface printing methods.

[0015] Although the carton of the present invention is shown as asix-sided configuration, it shall be understood that the presentinvention can be modified to conform to the particular shape of thecontents to be packaged. Additionally, it shall be understood thataccess to the contents of the carton can be achieved by forming accesspanels on any major panel that is large enough to facilitate removal ofthe beverages stored therein.

[0016] Finally, although the present invention has particular utilitywith reference to cooling of beverages, the present invention is equallysuitable for cooling any other type of canned, bottled, or jarred foods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the beverage cooler carton of thisinvention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the cooler carton of thisinvention showing the panel perforations broken for access to the cartoncontents;

[0019]FIG. 2A is a greatly enlarged cross section of the designated areaon FIG. 2 showing the composite or multilayered material which may beused;

[0020]FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the carton of this inventionpartially assembled, namely, one end panel of the carton is open showingthe various component flaps which form an end panel;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the cartonhousing a plurality of canned beverages and ice; and

[0022]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the carton prior to assembly,illustrating the various fold lines and score lines, as well as otherdetails of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the carton 10 according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the perspective viewof FIG. 1, the carton 10 is assembled, and has yet to be opened by aconsumer. The carton is defined by a plurality of panels including anupper panel 12, front panel 14, rear panel 16, end or side panels 18,and a lower panel 20. A handle 22 may be connected to the upper panel12. The handle 22 includes a base 24 which may be made of a materialwhich is somewhat thicker and stiffer than the construction of thecarton panels. The base 24 can be glued to the underside of the upperpanel 12, and an opening may be cut in the upper panel 12 therebyallowing the handle 22 to be exposed for grasping by the consumer.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the carton of the present invention isplaced upon its side that allows the front panel 14 to be facingupwards. In this configuration, the interior contents of the carton maybe accessed by breaking the access panel perforations 28 which definethe respective access panels 26. As seen best in FIG. 2, the preferredmanner in which the carton is opened to access the contents within thecarton is to activate the tab 40 by placing a finger to depress thefinger perforation 38 and then pulling back on the tab 40. By pulling onthe tab, the perforations are broken around the tab, and the onlyremaining perforations to break are the perforations 28 which intersectwith the finger perforation 38. These perforations are easily broken bysimply pulling up on the access panel 26 which lies adjacent the endpanel 18. As desired, the access panels may then be folded about theirrespective fold lines 30 in order to increase the size of the accessopening. When it is desired to cool the beverages within the carton, icemay be placed within the access opening directly on the beveragecontainers. The size of the access opening is large enough so that amound or pile of ice which is placed within the access opening cancontact most or all of the upper surfaces of the beverages within thecarton. The access panels 26 act as supports to hold the mound or pileof ice which may be stacked at a height which could even be above theupper ends of the access panels, and as the ice melts, the access panelswill naturally fold back towards their original position as there willcontinue to be some tension in the fold lines 30 which normally urge theaccess panels 26 back to their original unfolded positions.

[0025] Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, another method by which aconsumer may cool the beverages within the carton is to actually removeone or two of the beverages, and then add ice I within the carton sothat the ice I resides around the side edges and/or upper surfaces ofthe beverages B. The removed beverages B can then be placed within theaccess opening. The access panels 26 again act as supports which mayhold the beverages B, and can further accommodate some additional amountof ice I which is placed around the removed beverages within the spacecreated by the upward folded access panels 26.

[0026] Although the Figures illustrate the use of canned beverages, itshall be understood that any other type of beverage or food containersmay be used with the carton of this invention. Additionally, othercooling means could be used to cool the contents of the carton, such asa frozen slush mixture of ice and water, or conventional ice packs ofthe type that are re-frozen after use.

[0027]FIG. 2A illustrates the composite or multilayered structure of thematerial which may be used for the carton of this invention. The crosssection shown is not necessarily to scale, and is simply provided toshow the multilayered nature of the material. Specifically, thepolyethylene film 32 is shown as the exterior layer, which is secured tothe substrate 34 by the thin layer 36 of polyethylene extrudate.

[0028]FIG. 3 illustrates one end panel 18 opened in order to demonstratethe manner in which the various flaps are folded to secure the end panelagainst the carton. As shown, the opened end panel 18 includes aplurality of flaps, namely, an upper flap 42, a lower flap 44,and a pairof side flaps which interconnect opposite sides of the lower flap 44.

[0029] Each of the side flaps include a lower side flap 48 having anedge which connects to one end of the lower flap 44, and each side flapfurther includes an upper side flap 46 having an edge which connects tothe adjacent upper or lower panel 12/20. A diagonal fold or score 52interconnects the upper side flap 46 to the lower side flap 48, and thelower side flap 48 is foldable against the upper side flap 46 when thelower flap 44 is rotated to a position against the carton. Alsoreferring to FIG. 5, a notch 50 may be cut out of the upper side flap 46which facilitates folding of the upper side flap as the lower flap 44 isrotated to its closed position against the container. Preferably, thelower flap 44 is folded first, and then the upper flap 42 is rotated toits closed position in contact against the lower flap 44. An adhesivemay be applied to the interior surface of the upper flap 42 in order tosecure it against the lower flap 44.

[0030] A plurality of liquid or condensation slots 56 may be formed onthe front panel 14 which allows any leaking beverage to drain throughthe slots 56. During shipment, the carton is preferably shipped so thatthe tops of the beverages are placed upside down thereby facilitatingdraining of fluid from a leaking beverage through the slots 56.Additionally, particularly in humid climates, condensation may formwithin the carton. Therefore, the slots 56 also allow condensation toflow out of the carton through the slots 56.

[0031] Optionally, a liquid fill line 58 may be marked on the cartondenoting the level at which liquid can be added to the carton withoutoverflowing. This liquid fill line 58 may be placed on either the endpanels or the upper and lower panels at some location below the upperedge of the lower flaps 44, as the upper edge of the lower flap 44constitutes the highest level at which liquid can be added withoutoverflowing the upper edge. The fill line could be printed on the insideas well as the outside of the carton as desired

[0032]FIG. 5 illustrates the carton of this invention prior to beingassembled. When assembled, the upper panel 12 is placed over an interiorupper panel 54. An adhesive may be used to attach the interior upperpanel 54 to the upper panel 12. Thus, the upper panel is of a doublereinforced construction. Also, this double reinforced constructionprevents leakage of liquid through the opening cut in the upper panelwhich exposes the handle 22. A plurality of additional slots 56 may alsobe formed on both the interior upper panel 54 and the lower panel 20 inorder to further facilitate draining of leaking beverages andcondensation, as well as to prevent overfilling of the carton above thefill line 58. Once the carton has been delivered to a retail location,the cartons are typically displayed so that the handle 22 is facing upallowing a consumer to more easily grasp the carton. Thus, the frontpanel 14 is no longer the most lower surface. If a beverage begins toleak while at the retail location, the slots 56 located on panel 20 willallow drainage. If the carton is stored in a refrigeration unit at theretail location, condensation is likely to develop because repeatedopening and closing of the refrigeration unit by consumers introduceswarm moist air into the carton which then condensates in the carton.Accordingly, the slots 56 on panel 20 facilitate draining ofcondensation. As also shown in FIG. 2, the slots 56 formed on panel 54prevent overfilling of the carton because the slots are positioned abovethe fill line 58.

[0033] With the construction of the carton of the present invention,there is a continuous and unbroken group of panels which form a liquidcontainment area that may hold a quantity of liquid within thecontainer. Cuts or perforations formed completely through the containeralong any of the folds encompassing the liquid containment area wouldcompromise the integrity of the carton and the carton would thereforeleak. With the present invention, the score lines encompassing theliquid containment area only penetrate the substrate thereby maintainingthe integrity of the liquid impermeable layers.

[0034] If a fairly thick substrate is used, simply providing fold linesat some locations may make it too difficult to effectively fold thecarton during assembly. Thus, score lines could be used which help tothin the substrate, thereby allowing the material to be more easilyfolded. Since the score lines only penetrate the substrate, theintegrity of the polyethylene film or the extrudate is not compromised.

[0035] In addition to the carton described above, the invention hereinalso includes a method of assembling a beverage cooler carton includingsteps allowing the carton to receive cooling means within a liquidcontainment area. The method comprises the steps of providing a precutpiece of material, providing various fold and/or score lines on theprecut material, and folding the material into a final shape based uponthe various fold/score lines, wherein the material includes continuousend flaps interconnecting the upper and lower panels, and which arefolded to maintain continuity of the polyethylene film. The front panelincludes various perforations allowing a user to break open the frontpanel along the perforations, thereby forming an access opening exposingthe beverages. Without the lower side flaps, there would be nocontinuous piece or section of material which joined the lower flap ofthe end panels to the lower portions of the upper and lower panels.These lower side flaps provide a continuous seal, even across a scoreline which can be used for folding of the end flaps. Simply attachingthe end panels to the upper and lower panels by a free-hanging flapattached to either the end panels or the front and rear panels wouldmake it much more difficult to maintain the sealed nature of the liquidcontainment area. Adhesive or some other bonding agent alone would beinadequate to maintain a seal at the comers between the end panels andthe upper and lower panels.

[0036] By the foregoing, it can be seen that the carton of thisinvention has many advantages. The carton may be made of a single pieceof material which is cut into a desired shape, and includes various foldand score lines delineating the various folds and bends of the cartonwhen assembled. The dual layer of liquid-impermeable components allowsthe carton to receive and hold ice or other cooling means. This duallayer is not compromised when the carton is assembled. Therefore, afterassembly, no additional steps are necessary in maintaining thewaterproof nature of the carton. The unique construction of the endpanels provides not only strength, but also maintains the integrity ofthe liquid containment area. Access to the interior of the carton isachieved through the front or rear panel which provides the largest areato access the contents of the carton. Accordingly, ice or other coolingmeans may be more effectively spread across the carton for cooling. Theperforations formed directly on the front or rear panel also provide ameans for accessing the interior contents of the carton without havingto provide any additional structure or material for accessing thecarton. It shall be understood that the perforations for accessing thecarton contents may be spaced groups of score lines which only penetratethe substrate, and do not otherwise compromise the outer polyethylenefilm or the extrudate. Therefore, the perforations do not substantiallyalter the strength of the front panel, yet allow easy and efficientaccess to the contents of the carton. The carton is of simpleconstruction, yet effectively serves the dual purpose of providingpackaging for beverages, and providing a package or carton which allowsthe beverages to be cooled directly within the carton.

[0037] This invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment; however, it will be understood that various modificationsand changes can be made which are contemplated within the spirit andscope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carton for holding a plurality of products suchas beverages, said carton comprising: a plurality of panels includingopposing front and rear panels, opposing upper and lower panels, andopposing end panels, said plurality of panels when assembled forming thecarton enclosing an interior open space; said end panels each includingan upper flap attached to said front panel, and a lower flap attached tosaid rear panel; a foldable flap attached to each of said lower panels;said front panel being substantially planar, and a plurality ofperforations formed thereon defining an access opening when saidperforations are broken to expose said interior open space; and whereinsaid rear panel, said upper and lower panels, and said end panels form acontinuous and unbroken liquid containment area for holding an amount ofliquid therein.
 2. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: saidplurality of perforations define a plurality of access panels which arefoldable away from said front panel and which communicate with saidaccess opening.
 3. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said toppanel includes a handle attached thereto.
 4. A carton, as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: each said foldable flap includes an upper side flaphaving an edge connected to its adjacent upper or lower panel, and alower side flap having an edge connected to said lower flap.
 5. Acarton, as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said foldable flap includes adiagonal fold defining an interface between said upper side flap andsaid lower side flap, said diagonal fold allowing said upper and lowerside flaps to be folded against one another when said lower flap isfolded towards said carton.
 6. A carton, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:said upper side flap includes a notch formed thereon facilitatingfolding of said upper side flap against said lower side flap.
 7. Acarton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said carton includes a liquidlevel line defining a recommended maximum fill line for liquid in saidcarton.
 8. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said carton is madefrom a single sheet of pre-cut material.
 9. A carton, as claimed inclaim 1, wherein: said carton is made of composite material including asubstrate and a liquid impermeable film bonded to said substrate.
 10. Acarton, as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said liquid impermeable filmincludes a polyethylene film.
 11. A carton, as claimed in claim 9,wherein: said liquid impermeable film is bonded to said substrate by apolyethylene extrudate.
 12. A carton, as claimed in claim 2, furtherincluding: a tab located between at least two opposing access panels andconnected to a third access panel.
 13. A carton, as claimed in claim 1,wherein: said carton further includes a plurality of slots positioned onedges of said front panel and said opposing end panels to facilitatedraining of leaking containers or condensation, or to preventoverfilling during use.
 14. A carton for holding a plurality of productssuch as beverages, said carton comprising: a plurality of panelsincluding opposing front and rear panels, opposing upper and lowerpanels, and opposing end panels, said plurality of panels when assembledforming said carton container enclosing an interior open space; saidfront panel being substantially planar, and a plurality of perforationsformed thereon defining an access opening when said perforations arebroken to expose said interior open space; and means for forming aliquid containment area to hold a quantity of liquid and preventing theliquid from escaping the carton.
 15. A carton, as claimed in claim 14,wherein: said plurality of perforations define a plurality of accesspanels which are foldable away from said front panel and whichcommunicate with said access opening.
 16. A carton, as claimed in claim14, wherein: said top panel includes a handle attached thereto.
 17. Acarton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said end panels each include anupper flap attached to said front panel, a lower flap attached to saidrear panel, and a pair of foldable flaps attached to said lower panels,each said foldable flap including an upper side flap having an edgeconnected to its adjacent upper or lower panel, and a lower side flaphaving an edge connected to said lower flap.
 18. A carton, as claimed inclaim 17, wherein: each said foldable flap includes a diagonal folddefining an interface between said upper side flap and said lower sideflap, said diagonal fold allowing said upper and lower side flaps to befolded against one another when said lower flap is folded towards saidcarton.
 19. A carton, as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said upper sideflap has a notch formed thereon to facilitate folding of said upper sideflap against said lower side flap.
 20. A carton, as claimed in claim 14,wherein: said container includes a liquid level line defining arecommended maximum fill line for liquid in said carton.
 21. A carton,as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said carton is made of a single sheetof pre-cut material.
 22. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: saidcarton is made of a composite material including a substrate and a waterimpermeable film bonded to said substrate.
 23. A carton, as claimed inclaim 22, wherein: said water impermeable film is a polyethylene filmbonded to said substrate by a polyethylene extrudate.
 24. A carton, asclaimed in claim 17, wherein: said front panel further includes a tablocated between at least two of said access panels and connected to athird access panel.
 25. A carton, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: saidcarton further includes a plurality of slots positioned on edges of saidfront panel and said opposing end panels to facilitate draining ofleaking containers or condensation, or to prevent overfilling duringuse.
 26. A carton for holding a plurality of products such as beverages,said carton comprising: a plurality of panels formed from a single sheetof material, said material being liquid impervious; said plurality ofpanels including opposing front and rear panels, opposing upper andlower panels, and opposing end panels, said plurality of panels whenassembled forming the carton enclosing an interior open space; said rearpanel, and lower portions of said upper, lower, and end panels defininga continuous and unbroken liquid containment area; and said front panelbeing substantially planar, and said front panel having a plurality ofperforations formed thereon defining an access opening when saidperforations are broken to expose said interior open space.
 27. Acarton, as claimed in claim 26, wherein: said material includes a liquidimpermeable membrane applied thereto to make said material liquidimpermeable.
 28. A carton, as claimed in claim 26, wherein: said cartonfurther includes a plurality of slots positioned on edges of said frontpanel and said opposing end panels to facilitate draining of leakingcontainers or condensation, or to prevent overfilling during use.
 29. Amethod of assembling a beverage cooler carton and providing access tothe contents of the carton, said method comprising the steps of:providing precut material including a plurality of score lines; securingopposite ends of the material and connecting said opposite ends to forman upper panel of the carton; folding the material along designatedscore lines to define front, rear, and lower panels of the carton;further folding the material along other designated score lines to forma pair of opposing end panels, each said end panel including a pluralityof flaps forming a continuous seal between the upper and lower panels;accessing the interior of the carton by breaking score lines which areformed on the front panel, said score lines defining a plurality ofaccess panels; and folding the access panels to enlarge the accessopening to optimize use of cooling means which are placed in directcontact with beverages within the carton.
 30. A method, as claimed inclaim 29, further including the step of: constructing the material fromat least two layers, said two layers including a substrate and a liquidimpermeable membrane.
 31. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein:said material includes a substrate, and a polyethylene film bonded tosaid substrate.
 32. A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: saidpolyethylene film is bonded to said substrate by a polyethyleneextrudate.
 33. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein: saidperforations on said front panel further form a tab which separatesadjacent access panels.